The killings in parts of Benue and Taraba states have continued unabated into the weekend.
Reports have shown that about 56 people were murdered in separate attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen in several local government areas of the two states between Thursday and Friday.
In Benue State, 42 persons were reportedly killed in attacks by the assailants in two local government areas, while 14 others were killed on Thursday in Gassol and Bali local government areas of Taraba State.
The affected local governments in Benue State, according to locals, are Katsina Ala and Gwer West. Residents of Shikaan, Mbagena and Kpav in Shitile, the affected communities in Katsina Ala Local Government Area, said that the attackers invaded their communities in the early hours of Thursday and embarked on a killing spree.
Testimonies from residents of the communities have it that about 36 dead bodies were evacuated. Also in Gwer West Local Government Area of the state, six people were reportedly killed while some travellers were kidnapped on Naka-Makurdi Road on Friday Confirming the incidents, the chairperson of the council area, Mrs Grace Igbabon, said some suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked a community close to Makurdi and killed five people while some people were also abducted.
Igbabon said: “Some suspected Fulanis invaded Tinader, on the way to Makurdi, and attacked villagers and travellers.
“We were holding a stakeholders meeting yesterday between 4.00 p.m. and 5.00 p.m. when people from Tinader village called me and reported that there was an attack on their village. They said five people were killed.
“I later gathered that the killers waylaid passengers on the NakaMakurdi Highway and kidnapped some people, including a woman and her child. Their whereabouts are still unknown.”
The chairperson said there was also an exchange of gunfire between some Fulani herdsmen and residents of a village on Friday morning.
“Even this morning (Friday) at Mbakpa village, there was an exchange of gunfire between Fulanis and the villagers. One person was reportedly killed,” she said.
Mrs Igbabon said she had reported the incident to security operatives in the state. When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Catherine Anene, confirmed the attack on Gwer West and said that five people were killed. Anene said she was yet to get a report of the incident in Katsina Ala Local Government Area.
A military source said that 19 people were killed in Katsina Ala local Government Area, adding that the act was perpetrated by local bandits. “It is true that 19 people were killed in some villages in Katsina Ala Local Government yesterday (Thursday) but it (killing) was carried out by bandits in the area,” the source said.
